Coronavirus: Community spread has been found in two new counties in North Idaho
Health officials in North Idaho have identified two new counties with community spread of the coronvirus: Benewah and Bonner.
The Panhandle Health District said in a news release Thursday afternoon that the new cases mean three counties within the district havecommunity spread. Kootenai County is the other. There are now 23 counties in Idaho with reported community spread.
Community spread means that at least one person has contracted the virus and contact tracing has not shown how the person caught it.
In the news release, the health department urged residents to “assume the virus could be anywhere in the community and surrounding counties.”
As of Thursday, 97 cases of the coronavirus have been reported within the Panhandle Health District. Of those, 18 were reported in the past week, according to the health district.
The district added that it’s no longer monitoring 69 cases.
The Coeur d’Alene Tribe announced there are 22 cases associated with the reservation, which spans multiple counties.
‘Social gatherings’ blamed for rise in eastern Idaho cases
Officials with Southeastern Idaho Public Health said in a news release Wednesday that going to social gatherings is a common factor in the rise of coronavirus in the region.
In the news release, the health department reminded residents to practice physical distancing while out. Though the state government’s plan to reopen the state allows for gatherings up to 50 people, residents should be aware of social distancing and wearing masks.
On Wednesday, 44 newly confirmed cases of the virus, which causes the COVID-19 respiratory disease, were reported in Idaho. Bonneville County added seven cases, while Bannock — a county that recorded its first coronavirus death Monday — added three. Five new cases were reported in Ada County.
In total, there have been 2,712 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Idaho. The number of “probable cases” grew by eight on Wednesday, bringing the total to 281, according to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
Confirmed cases of the coronavirus have been found in the majority of Idaho counties: Ada 768, Adams 3, Bannock 34, Benewah 7, Bingham 12, Blaine 503, Bonner 5, Bonneville 38, Camas 1, Canyon 289, Caribou 3, Cassia 78, Custer 2, Elmore 31, Franklin 7, Fremont 3, Gem 13, Gooding 44, Idaho 3, Jefferson 7, Jerome 156, Kootenai 78, Latah 6, Lemhi 1, Lincoln 30, Madison 16, Minidoka 56, Nez Perce 74, Owyhee 8, Payette 21, Power 6, Teton 10, Twin Falls 360, Valley 2 and Washington 37.
Community spread has been detected in 23 Idaho counties: Ada, Bannock, Benewah, Bingham, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Lemhi, Owyhee, Madison, Minidoka, Payette, Power, Teton and Twin Falls.
